Display carton and attachment therefor



Nov. 3, 1959 L. SEIIVDMAN 2,911,124

DISPLAY CARTON AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Filed Aug. 22, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VEN TOR.

LO SEIDMAN ATTORNEYS Nov. 3', 1959 L. SEIDMANY Filed Aug. 22, 1956 DTSPLAY CARTON AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LOUIS SEIDMAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent DISPLAY CARTON AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Louis Seidman, San Francisco, Calif., assignor' to Glaser Bros., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Callfornia Application August 22, 1956, Serial No. 605,627

2 Claims. (Cl. 217-61) This invention relates to display cartons, and more particularly to a display carton that can be releasably secured to an open lid-fitted box, such as a conventional cigar box.

In copending patent application, Serial No. 561,901, filed January 27, 1956, and now abandoned, there is disclosed a display rack that may be releasably secured to a box such as a cigar box. The display rack, as described in the above noted application comprised a wire-like struc ture, said wire being bent and joined toform a display rack in which packages of articles or other merchandise could be prominently displayed. The means for attaching this rack to a box was an integralclip so that the entire rack was, in eifect, a unitary structure. This rack proved to be very successful for its particular applications, however oftentimes in the sale of items such as cigars, and other similar articles the use of expendable display articles is desirable. The display racks of the hereinbefore cited application are'not intended to be expendable items, and are relatively costly.

It is, therefore, a prinmary object of this present invention to provide a display rack that maintains the desirable features noted in the above copending application and yet may be of a disposable or expendable nature.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a merchandise display carton that can be easily fitted to a conventional box, suchas a cigar box, for the purpose of displaying merchandise.

It is another object of the present'invention to provide a clip for holding the lid of a box in open position to permit handling the open box, and which clip is also adapted to releasably secure a display carton of the type contemplated by the present invention to an open box in such a manner that the box may be handled, picked up, and carried by its lid without spilling the contents of the box or, in the event a display carton is employed, without spilling the contents of the latter.

Yet another object of this invention isthe provision of merchandise displaying means that can be stored or shipped in an unassembled, flat, sheet like manner, thereby substantially reducing the problems and expenses incurred in shipping and storage.

Another object is the provision of display cartons of the above described type that can be repidly and economically made of inexpensive material, yet remaining sturdy in structure and pleasing in appearance.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become evident from a study of the detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a conventional cigar box, containing cigars therein, with the tray-likemerchandise displaying carton of this invention attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the cardboard blank from which the tray of this present invention is formed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, partially broken away isometric view of one end 'of the display car'ton of this invention showing how the various tabs and members are joined;

2 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken substantially along lines 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the clip bywhich the tray-like carton of this inventionis releasably attached to for the purpose of displaying the more convenient cigar packages, generally known as five packs, each of which contains five cigars therein. However, the showing of one particular article is not to be taken as restrictive of the invention as the device disclosed herein can be adapted to prominently display other merchandise such as confections, cosmetics, packaged items of hosiery, etc.

As best seen in Fig. 1 the display carton of the present invention is attached to a conventional cigar box, generally designated 1.

Cigar box 1 is of the usual structure including a front wall 2 and parallel and opposed rear wall 3 to which is hingedly secured a lid member 4. The ends 5, 6 of the box 1 are raised slightly above the top of walls 2 and 3 so as to offer a flush surface to the top of the cigar box when lid 4 is closed to a position engaging the top of front wall 2. A bottom panel 7 is likewise provided to enable articles to be confined within box 1 (Fig. 6).

Releasably secured to box 1, so as to overhang end 6 thereof is a generally rectangular, shallow walled, open top carton or tray generally designated 11 (Fig. 1). Carton 11 is formed from a fiat sheet of foldable semirigid material, such as cardboard, which has been cut and otherwise formed to the configuration shown ini Fig. 2.

The carton blank, generally designated 10 comprises a generally rectangular central section or panel 12 which Separated provides the bottom panel of carton 11. p from the longer sides of panel 12 by fold lines 13, 14, are a pair of elongated panels 15, 16 which are adapted to provide the sidemembers or walls of carton 11.

Separated from the ends of wall 15 by fold lines 17, 18.

are a pair of similar longitudinally extending tabs 19, 20 which are. formed slightly narrower than wall 15 and are adapted to be bent on said fold lines 17, 18 to project at right angles from said wall 15. Wall 16, opposite from wall 15 is likewise provided with a pair of tabs 21, 22 similarly secured thereto. Tab 21 is formed similar to tabs 19, 20 but tab 22 is made slightly shorter so as not to interfere with the tray attaching clip as will be subsequently described.

Integrally connected by fold lines 23, 24 to the shorter sides of bottom panel 12 are a pair of similar, longitudinally extending fiaps 25, 26 which in turn are scored along lines 27, 28 so as to enable the outer halves 29, 30 thereof, respectively, to be folded over upon the. inner portion 25, 26.

Longitudinally extending, outwardly from halves 29, 30 are a pair of slot engaging locking tabs 31, 32 respectively, the purpose of which will be subsequently described. 7

Fold lines 23, 24 are discontinuous along the central portions thereof as defined by the intersection of the arcuate slits 33 through panel 12 and flaps 25, 26 are disconnected from panel 12 as by cuts 34, 35 extending between arcuate cuts 33 transversely of panel 12 and spaced slightly inwardly of fold lines 23, 24. By this.

structure it is seen that when flaps 25, 26 are bent up ward on fold lines 23,- 24 the relatively small portions 36, 37 defined by 'cuts 33, 34,--or35 form tabs similar Patented Nov. 3, 1 959 sectional view taken in size and shape to tabs 31, 32, and coplanar with said flaps 25, 26. Also a slot 39 is then formed that is as wide as the distance that cuts 34 or 35 are spaced inwardly from fold lines 23 or 24.

Carton 11 is formed from carton blank 10 as follows:

Tabs 19, 20, 21, 22 are folded upward at right angles to walls 15, 16 on their respective fold lines.

The wall panels 15, 16 are then folded upward to positions at right angles to bottom panel 12 along their respective fold lines 13, 14.

With walls 15, 16 formed and tabs 19, 20, 21, 22 projecting inwardly at right angles thereto, panels 25 and 26 may be folded upward along fold lines 23, 24 in such a manner that said panels 25, 26 are outwardly of said flaps 19 to 22. With the flaps 25, 26 thus folded the tab sections 36, 37 remain coplanar thereto thus forming a slot 39 (Figs. 3, 4). The outer halves 29, 30 of flaps 25, 26 are now folded, about lines of weakness 27, 28 so that flaps 19 to 22 are enclosed between the respective halves 25, 29 and 26, 30 (Figs. 3, 4). The locking tabs 31, 32 are now adapted to be pushed into slots 39 formed between the edge of panel 12 and flaps 25, 26 by the folding thereof.

Due to the natural tendency of the material to straighten itself out along the folds at lines 23, 24 and 27, 28 the inner surface of tabs 31, 32 bear upon the cut edges 34, 35 (Fig. 4) and thus locking the respective folds in place. Side walls 15, 16 are prevented from unfolding outwardly because the flaps 19, 20, 21, 22 are secured within the halves 25, 29 and 26, 30.

The reason for the indented transverse cuts 34, 35 which result in tabs 36, 37 may be seen from Fig. 4. Were tab 37 not provided and if carton 11 were loaded and placed upon a fiat surface there would be a tendency for the weight to cause the locking tab 32 to be slid upwardly thus disengaging it from edge 35 and resulting in the carton 11 possibly becoming undone.

However, tabs 36, 37 are provided and as seen in Fig. 4 are adapted to extend slightly lower than tabs 31, 32. Thus tabs 36, 37 form the support for carton 11 when saidcarton is placed upon a flat surface, and since said tabs are integral with the outermost end wall members 25, 26 the likelihood of tabs 31, 32 becoming disengaged is substantially reduced and further, since tabs 36, 37 extend below tabs 31, 32 the likelihood of tabs 31, 32 becoming unfastened is eliminated.

It should be noted, as seen in Fig. 4, there is a space 40 between flap 19 and the inner surface of the outer end wall 26. Said space 49 extends the entire width of carton 11 and is enterable from the sides of said carton (Figs. 3, 4).

With reference now to Fig. the means for releasably securing carton 11 to cigar box 1 will be now described.

The carton attaching clip, generally designated 45, comprises a single piece of thin, rigid sheet material such as steel that is bent and cut to the desired configuration.

A fragmentary portion to box 1 showing the juncture of end wall 6, back 3, lid 4 is shown in dot-dash lines to clarify the cooperation of clip 45 therewith (Fig. 5).

Clip 45 comprises an elongated, generally rectangular portion 46, from which a blade or tongue 47 is struck so as to remain parallel to the parent material, and be joined thereto at juncture 48.

In order to engage the side of the opened lid 4 of box 1. the portion of clip 45 adjacent the end of rectangular section 46 that is closest to the adjacent edge of lid 4is bent at right angles to portion 46 to form a relatively narrow section 49 wide enough to accommodate the thickness of lid 4. The material is again bent to provide a flange 50 to engage the outer surface of the lid 4, thereby giving the lid edge engaging portion of clip 45 a U shaped appearance in plan view. Section 49 and flange 50 are adapted to extend downwardly below the point at which the lid 4 is hingedly secured to the top of rear wall 3 of box 1 in order to allow the forwardly dim fid edge 51 of section 49 to engage the rear surface of said wall 3.

For the purpose of positioning clip 45 on box 1 a forwardly directed extension 52, below and at right angles to portion 46 is provided integral with section 49. The top portion of extension 52 is bent over to form a lip 53 which is adapted to engage the upper edge of end wall 6 of the box. To receive the portion of the rear wall 3 of box 1 adjacent wall 6 a slot 54 is formed in extension 52 and the-material removed therefrom is bent to form an inwardly directed lip 55, joined to extension 52, to engage the inner surface of wall 3 at a point opposite from the line of engagement of edge 51 with the rear of said wall.

To place clip 45 on a cigar box 1 is a very simple procedure. The lid 4 of the box is opened, and held in a generally vertical position, clip 45 is then slipped over said lid as shown, with the rectangular portion 46 adjacent the inner side of lid 4, and the rear parallel flange 50 engaging the outer side of lid 4. Clip 45 may then be dropped into place with lip 53 engaging the upper edge of the rear corner of side wall 6. With the clip in place as described the cigar box 1 may be handled, carried, or lifted by merely grasping lid 4. The reason that this can be done without the contents spilling from the box is that when the lid is lifted a moment due to the weight of the box tends to further open the lid. Since the lid is secured Within the confines of portion 46 and flange 50, the lower, forwardly directed edge 51 of surface 49 engages the rear of wall 3 (Figs. 5, 6), thus tending to tilt the clip backward with the lid. This backward tilt is prevented by the mutual cooperation of edge 51 and lip 55 that engage the outer and inner sides respectively of rear wall 3, thereby holding lid 4 in a substantially upright position with respect to the box.

This above described feature is very convenient as usually the cigar boxes are imprinted with advertising matter on the inner surface of the lid, and therefore to aid the customer in recognizing the cigar he wants it is desirable to leave the lid on the box when it is in the cigar counter.

Previously it was usual practice to remove the lids from the boxes when the boxes were to be displayed in a counter because they were in the way and would not stay open. However, by the use of clip 45 the lids not only areheld in place, but furnish a convenient handle by which the box may be lifted from the display counter.

As seen best in Figs. 6, 7, the mounting of carton 11 to clip 45 is extremely simple. All that need be done is to slip tongue or blade 47 into space 40 between end wall 26 and flaps 19 and 22. The bottom 12 of carton 11 is positioned atop the lip 53 and when the blade 47 of the clip is fully inserted into space 40 the carton 11 is then correctly placed and securely positioned with respect to the cigar box 1.

Since the lowest portion of carton 11 does not depend below the top edge of end wall 6, it is possible to place anothercigar box next to box 1 such that carton 11 extends over the two adjacent end walls of the boxes.

In the event that use of the display carton 11 is not desired, the clip 45 may obviously be employed only for the purpose of holding the box in open display position, in which event the box is readily picked up and handled by the lid.

If the clip 45 is employed only to hold the lid in open position, and the use of an auxiliary display carton, such as carton 11, is not desired, the tongue 47 may obviously be omitted.

The foregoing detailed description is not to be taken as restrictive of the invention, but merely is a representation of a preferred form, it being obvious that many minor modifications could be resorted to that would not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A display rack for use in association with a box having front and rear vertical walls, a pair of end walls and a lid hingedly secured to the top of said rear wall, comprising: a horizontally disposed tray having vertical side and end walls and disposed above one end Wall of said box when the latter is in open position and provided with a laterally outwardly opening recess on one wall thereof, a detachable clip positioned adjacent said lid at the juncture of one end wall and said rear wall of said box, means integral with said clip releasably securing said lid against swinging of the same relative to said box, a member integral with said clip and detachably received in said recess for releasably securing said tray in a position above said one end wall.

2. A display rack for use in association with a box having front and rear vertical walls, a pair of end walls and a lid hingedly secured to the top of said rear wall, comprising: a horizontally disposed tray having vertical side and end walls and disposed above one end wall of said box when the latter is in open position and provided with a laterally outwardly opening recess on one wall thereof,'a detachable clip positioned adjacent said lid at the juncture of one end wall and said rear wall of said box, an extension integral with said clip and engaging the inner side of said one end Wall, a lip integral with said extension and at right angles thereto engaging the inner side of said rear wall of said box, a section integral with said clip extending downwardly into engagement with the outer side of said rear wall, whereby said lid is secured by said clip against swinging of the same relative to said box, said clip being provided with a horizontally elongated tongue integrally secured at one end to said clip and received within said recess for releasably securing said tray to said box in a position above said one end wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 887,153 Van Dressen May 12, 1908 991,102 Speice May 2, 1911 1,331,314 Bremner Feb. 17, 1920 1,337,999 Cianovich Apr. 27, 1920 2,637,484 Buttery May 5, 1953 2,707,587 Wittstei-n May 3, 1955 

